Azerbaijan is located at the crossroads of Europe and Central Asia and covering a total area of about 86,600 sq. km. Azerbaijan has a border on the north with Russia, on the east by the Caspian Sea, on the south by Iran, on the west by Armenia and on the northwest by Georgia. Azerbaijan also shares a short border with Turkey through its autonomous enclave of Nakhichevan, which is separated from the rest of Azerbaijan by Armenian territory.

On October 1991 Azerbaijan got its independence again. The republic’s first years of renewed independence were troubled by political upheaval, economic decline, and a war with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh territory which is internationally recognized part of Azerbaijan by a number of pivotal institutions such as United Nations and European Union, Organization of Islamic Conference, OSCE and etc.

Beginning from 1995 socio-political stability was established and conditions for democratic development as well as political and economic reforms have been provided. As result of these processes, favourable environment for the development and better opportunities of young people have been created and the Government has commenced to pay more attention on implementation of proper policy concerning youth problems. Azerbaijan’s economy has grown at a phenomenal rate in the past few years and particularly since the start of the oil production boom in 2004: in 2005 and 2006 the real GDP growth rate was the highest in the world. [...]

Young men in Azerbaijan in age from 18 to 35 years are obliged to serve in military service. Young men should attend pre-service military training in secondary schools.

In recent years Azerbaijan Republic carried out comprehensive reforms in different spheres of social life. The Constitution adopted on November 12, 1995 set the beginning of a new era of state-building which bases on the protection of basic human rights. The Constitution constitutes the core of the maintenance of human rights in the country. The third chapter of the document titled “Basic rights and liberties of a person and citizen” is composed of 48 articles which encompasses broad spectrum of human rights.

Steps taken with a purpose of adapting the legal system of Azerbaijan to International standards envisaged in the European Convention on Human Rights and other international documents hold important place among the reforms in the field of democratization of the country.

The adoption of many different laws/codes of Azerbaijan Republic those are of great importance strengthened the legislative basis of the Republic.

On February 22, 1998 The President of the Republic issued a decree “On the Measures regarding maintenance of human rights”. With the Presidential order dated to June18, 1998 the State Program regarding the respect for human rights was approved. On the basis of the abovementioned State Program and in accordance with the commitments of Azerbaijan before the Council of Europe (COE) a new for Azerbaijan institution – Ombudsman was established in 2002.

Azerbaijan is a multi-ethnic state and ethnic groups living here practice different faiths. The rights of all religious minorities are provided, secured and respected in the country. Besides Muslim mosques, different churches, synagogues and temples function in Azerbaijan. According to Article 18 of the Constitution religion is separated from state.

One of the main steps with regard to sustaining respect for human rights was the adoption of National Action Plan on the Protection of Human Rights. Developed on the proposals by different government bodies, including the Ministry of Youth and Sport, the National Action Plan was approved by the President Ilham Aliyev’s order, dated to December 28, 2006.